MORE than 100 jobs could be axed in the North-East under plans to cut costs at the body in charge of learning and skills in England.

Union officials last night said the job cuts - among 1,300 nationwide - will lead to the closure of Learning and Skills Council offices.

The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said the plans will devastate post-16 learning and skills.

Yesterday's announcement that about a third of the council's staff will lose their jobs by next June follows the axing of 800 posts at the organisation in the past 18 months.

The union said the cuts will wreak havoc with vocational courses, apprenticeships and adult education and will throw the Government's aim of improving workers' skills into disarray.

Staff have not been told where the cuts will be made, but the four North-East offices - in Middlesbrough, Durham, Gateshead, and Cramlington, in Northumberland - are expected to be hit.

There are 400 people employed at sites in the region, and if a third of those are axed, more than 130 workers could be lost.

Mark Haysom, the LSC chief executive, insisted the shake-up would lead to savings that would benefit 80,000 adults or 12,000 young learners.

He said: "I am acutely aware of the impact this announcement will have on staff throughout the council.

"The council is capable of doing much more and it is capable of doing it more efficiently and effectively.

''The council must make itself easier to deal with and ensure that every penny works hard for the taxpayer.''

The union's North-East regional organiser, Liz Blackshaw, said: "Everyone is going to be affected, not just those who lose their jobs. Whenever you have these job cuts, there is always an increase in workloads and an increase in pressures for the remaining staff.

"The news has come as a complete shock. No one was expecting this at all, especially at a time when the Government is saying learning and skills are at the top of their agenda.

"The council was restructured 18 months ago and 800 jobs were lost, and since then the remaining workforce has struggled with high stress levels and high absence levels because of the stress.

"We can't understand how the Government can say a further third of the workforce can be lost and expect the provision not to be affected."

Union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "These proposals will seriously damage the council's ability to administer and distribute its £9bn budget.''

Mr Serwotka said the announcement undermined an invitation earlier this week by Chancellor Gordon Brown for unions and employers to hold talks on how to boost skills.

The union warned of possible industrial action to fight the cuts.

The council confirmed its reorganisation would see staffing reduced from 4,700 to 3.400, saving £40m.

Miss Blackshaw said closure of offices would affect courses - and could lead to young people leaving the region for better training.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "The issue of skills is one of the most pressing problems facing our region.

"Bearing this in mind, this announcement will give employers considerable cause for concern.